With just one throw, Delsea graduate Josh Awotunde advanced to the shot put final Friday at the World Athletics Championships.
Awotunde, a former South Carolina All-America, threw 69-5 ¾ on his only throw in the qualifying round at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
All entrants who threw 69-6 ½ or better qualify automatically with the field expanded to 12 if fewer than 12 hit the auto mark. But Awotunde was close enough that there was no reason for him to continue throwing after his initial attempt.
The only auto qualifier in Group A was American Ryan Crouser, the world record holder, who threw 73-1. Crouser set the world record of 76-8 in Eugene last summer at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Awotunde’s 69-5 ¾ was the 2nd-best throw of the 15 entrants in Group A and 5th-best among all the qualifiers in both groups. He was the top “small-Q” or non-auto qualifier.
Awotunde ranks 30th in world history and 15th in U.S. history with his 72-2 from last September in Padova, Italy.
The final is scheduled for 9:27 p.m. Sunday.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 